Suggestions for travel camera

[northoftheborder]

My present digital camera is out-of-date now, and too bulky to carry around on tour. I want a compact, pocket-sized camera BUT with a view finder. Any suggestions? Just looking online, it seems that view-finders only come on larger more expensive cameras; I plan to go look tomorrow but thought I would ask you for ideas.

[alfredo]

1. How much you want to spend?

In the $700 range is the Lumix LX 100 It has no articulating screens, so you will have to bend down to do low aspect shots. It has a bright lens but not much of a zoom. A viewfinder and pocketable is usually at odds.

[flamin lib]

2. Cellphones have largely killed off the inexpensive point n shoot cameras. The image quality is high

enough that there's no advantage to carrying a second camera and it's always with you. That said using them in bright sunlight can be a challenge.

There's not much out there with a viewfinder for under $400.

[northoftheborder]

4. yes - I've been using my cell phone for years because so handy, but terrible for outdoors.

[Major Nikon]

3. Canon PowerShot G16

The downside to this camera is the sensor size is much smaller than the APS-C that Lumix LX100 has. The Ricoh GR is has the APS-C sensor and it's cheaper than the Lumix, but the lens isn't as good and the viewfinder is a $100 add-on that takes up the hot-shoe spot.

Now if you want to go with film cameras there's a lot of cheaper options out there which are excellent.

[northoftheborder]

5. Hmmm - didn't know you could still buy film. I still have my last film camera---

---that took excellent photos, but no, I had to keep up with the latest, so bought my present digital camera, which I've never been very happy with. it's 10 years old now, and needs to be replaced.

[Major Nikon]

8. Film is still available in many different types of emulsions

Kodak, Ilford, Fuji, Agfa, and a few others are still producing film.

[northoftheborder]

6. Thanks for the tip. I'm going to look for this retail, then order from Canon if I like it.

It has a good weight for carrying around - less than a pound.

[mnhtnbb]

7. I have the Canon Powershot G15 --which was precursor to the G16

The photo I posted of the snow/ice in early morning light was taken with it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103650048

[liberal N proud]

9. Nikon CoolPix

Great features for a small camera W found it great for low light pics.

[csziggy]

10. I bought a Fujifilm Finepix S9900W that I love

It has an electronic viewfinder, 50x zoom and image stabilization. http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/s/finepix_s9900w/

I bought mine before Christmas from Costco but they no longer have them. Amazon, B&H photo, BestBuy all list it.

I'm getting much better pictures with it than I did with my Nikon DSL and I don't have to worry about switching out lenses or carrying a bunch of equipment. It's smaller than the DSLR but big enough that I don't have trouble using it with my big hands.

I've used it for everything from taking long range pictures of birds to macros of details on my needlework. My only complaint is that some of the needlework shots are not as sharp as I'd like but I think the metallics on those pieces are confusing the autofocus.